Part of being a responsible dog owner is knowing when to keep your dog on a lead

04/05/2012 , 6:44 PM by Clugston Anne

On Mornings we regularly ask listeners to call and let us know what’s going on in their world. The stories they share often amaze, inspire, frustrate and shock us.

Today we took a call that not only shocked us but resulted in an amazing response from people listening to the program.

Stuart called to tell us how his maltese terrier had been mauled to death by two pitbull terriers early yesterday morning. He had been walking at Banks Reserve in Mount Lawley when the off-lead pitbulls attacked his dog.

He told of his distress watching the violent attack and of his desperate screams for the other dogs’ owner to come and help. Stuart told us how, when he finally found the owner, the man told him “to get over it” and suggested he should have got a bigger dog.

It was hard to believe the contempt of the other dogs’ owner, and our hearts went out to the obviously devastated Stuart. We put him in touch with the RSPCA , police and his local council – all of whom are looking in to the incident.

While Stuart will have to live with the loss of his pet, we hope his call to the program will result in the other dogs’ owner being identified so authorities can act to prevent further attacks by these dogs.